23 May, United States: Nationwide Hunger Strike for #DignityStrike37

WHAT: Join Palestinian students in the U.S. for a nationwide, day-long hunger strike to amplify the voices of over 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners on day 37 of their hunger strike

WHEN: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (all day)

WHERE: Nationwide, both online and on the following campuses: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, DePaul University, Columbia University, University of California-Irvine, University of California Davis, and University of California-Riverside, University of California San Diego, Hunter College, Stony Brook University.

Sponsors:
Palestinian Youth Movement – PYM
The Dream Defenders
For The People Artist Collective – FTP
Addameer
National Students For Justice In Palestine – NSJP
The United States Palestinian Community Network – USPCN

By the minute, the situation is becoming more critical and the risk of health deterioration is increasing. Coverage and opinion is critical to the success of any hunger strike. Thus far, international media has avoided the #DignityStrike in accordance with the Israeli state propaganda machine while the damage to Palestinian prisoners’ bodies only grows.

Right now, there are 6,300 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons, including 500 administrative detainees. More than 1,500 of them have engaged in 5 weeks of an open-ended hunger strike. The hunger strikers’ demands include

1. An increase in family visits
2. Access to proper medical care and education
3. An end to administrative detention and
4. An end to solitary confinement

On May 23, the 37th day and 6th week of the Dignity Strike, we are calling for Palestinians, Arabs, and all allies across the country to participate in a 24 hour hunger strike and an online social media campaign. Under the umbrella #DignityStrike37, we join our voices to support the #DignityStrike, push US media to cover the strike, and put greater pressure on Israel.

3. Take a picture with a sign that has the hashtag #DignityStrike37 and post it on your social media accounts.

4. Call the International Red Cross at 202.587.4600 to demand that it fulfills its obligation to examine the prisoners’ cells; and Amnesty International USA Headquarters at 212.807.8400 to demand it pressure Israel to meet the strikers’ demands.

Sample Tweets:

Amid muted response from international community, Palestinian political prisoners entered their 37th day & 6th wk of hunger strike #DignityStrike37